Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBS9BzRv5fO
Nick's heart pounded as he and Kyle pushed through the creaking doorway of the abandoned house. Dust swirled in the dim light filtering through broken windows, and the air was thick with decay.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpnIlw3rRY
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzrm6M8JgZ
Nick didn't respond. He was too busy searching for something—anything—that would tell them where she'd been taken. His fists clenched. The idea of Chrissy being trapped here, terrified and alone, made his blood boil.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwaBAXKV8D
Kyle knelt near the doorway, brushing his fingers against the floor. "Footsteps," he muttered. "Leading out." He stood, eyes meeting Nick's. "They took her into the woods."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmskHpIK2B
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdL6Ktq49wq
The Cliffside168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzALYkIZK2
The trail was erratic, leading them deeper into the dense trees, weaving between roots and rocks. When they finally broke through the forest, Nick skidded to a stop, heart hammering.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡye0bngUaor
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfkHiMIse7
The path ended at a sheer cliff.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMjgffYSgu
Nick's stomach twisted as he stepped forward, peering down at the jagged rocks below. The waves crashed violently against them, white foam churning in the restless water.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDpH0WXExu
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5X0qvI9Kc
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeefzgIdjMM
Gone?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44HjTWhxBt
No. No way.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfaaSTYgmV
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpg3rkP9xI1
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCa56etVGuQ
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWFLBUctHs
The Ocean's Secret168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJBDsVD9op
Chrissy's body was weightless, suspended in the cool embrace of the ocean. She had been sinking, tumbling with the currents, but as her heart calmed, something strange happened.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ly8DFoxbD
She wasn't running out of air.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGncgqwGDn0
Her lungs didn't burn.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCxcfnF9NF
Instead, she felt... at peace.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHVUw4D7uX
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuM6IiGfpKA
A glimmer in the sand below.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8ynjw38YC
Kicking her feet, she swam downward, her fingers brushing against the object. It was a small, smooth piece of sea glass—its vibrant blue-green color glowing faintly. It reminded her of the compass she'd found in the hidden cave.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcskAv7o5r1
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98mNYfTHwN
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpUCC1XMoH
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBh8qTaOmWp
The cave.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGEzzki2Rp
Maddie's Jealousy168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYypr4NhO9M
Back at the book nook, Maddie sat in a chair near the counter, pretending to read while keeping her ears open. She watched as Nick and Kyle stormed back in, their faces tight with frustration.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6s3YCWs0RB
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2f68EvyD0
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdfZHgrXnt
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjc2664XysG
Nick didn't care that Maddie was sitting right there. He turned to Kyle with barely controlled panic. "She's out there somewhere. We need to think."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdRVFygn1p
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGkQFuD9sS
She bit the inside of her cheek, jealousy rising like bile. Why did everything have to revolve around Chrissy? Why did Nick always put her first? And Kyle—he wasn't much better. He acted so indifferent, but he always showed up when she needed saving.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiTasbNtFn
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3q1WdxUOf
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0qHp28J0W
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkDWWRRWCT
And Maddie was getting sick of it.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJl8vt72Jan
Nick's Realization168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRZwTA12j2
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CfTsQhEEm
His hands curled into fists.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOs8ob9iXzd
She was somewhere safe.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpzeI8RQHq
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQglTlrfGpk
His stomach clenched.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCmK2G45Cg
"The cave."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEh69ThblQ
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdnoXfVMGa
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9AahSd0Gm
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgF7y03ari
Nick hesitated.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNg7FaPmfJ
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oevOU0Hnc
He didn't let himself finish the thought.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2e3MU6b6Nu
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswesO5Y5E9
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtqsoeo87J
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtzwpxroTV
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB66y658e6X
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xl9wI3OQD
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePUsQX0m0K
He didn't stop.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdW2csaavf
Didn't look back.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSBRyvVaP4
Because every second he wasted here...168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYBiJZLgk3
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2guXBP8Lq
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡus6efYBaYE
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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